Ratio controller for gas or fluid regulators



W. B. COFFEE March 2, 1943.

RATIO CONTROLLER FOR G'AS OR FLUID REGULATORS 2 sheetsfsneet 1 Filed July 5, 1941 Marchz, 1943. W B COFFEE 2,312,880

RATIO CONTROLLER FOR GAS OR FLUID REGULATORS Filed July 5, 194i 2 sheets-snaai 2 40@ j /z/ 464 2K5/5 .QA Le. a 27a u j/d LU l gmc/Wto@ WBLo//ee atenied Mar. 2

UNITED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE RATIO CONTROLLER'FOR GAS OR FLU REGULATORS william B. coffee, atlanta, Ga. Application July 5, 1941, serial No. 401,256

(cl. sli-12) 9 Claims.

This invention relates to automatically oper- Another object of this invention is to provide an improved method of regulating the ow of uid from a high pressure fluid source so that an increase in consumption of the uid causing a drop in pressure will in itself leect -an increased ow of fluid from the source through increased opening of the regulating, valve.

A futherobject ofthis invention is to provide a uid pressure regulator structure incombination with a' flow regulating valve whereby the valve may be operated to proportion the passage of uid in accordance with-the consumption of the uid and in this manner provide an even pressure on the output side of the valve.

A further objec of this invention is to provide a structure of t "s kindwhich includes a counter controlling means for preventing undue opening of the regulating valve upon sudden drop of pressure at the output side of the valve so as to thereby eliminateV any surging in the uid pres-` an automatically operable structure of this kind including a manually adjustable valve tensioning means plus a lessening mercury buoyancy force the movement of the valve to an open position beyond a predetermined point will be resisted by fluid pressure from the pressure source. .v

A further object of this invention is to provide in combination a pressure regulating valve structure of the diaphragm type and a controlling means therefor including a buoyant controller which is correlated with the high pressure side of the valve structure for aecting the' buoyancy of the controller in proportion to the degree of opening of the valve structure.

A further object of this invention is to-provide a pilot controlled valve structure which is flexibly connected" with themain valve operating structure and which regulates the opening and closing of the main valve structure in proportion to the fluid pressure on the output side of the main valve structure.

A further object of this invention is to provide in combination a main valve structure, spring-pressed means for urging ,the valve to an open position, a diaphragm connected with the valve and with the low pressure side thereof for moving the valve toward closed position in proportion to the fluid pressure on thelow pressure side and a pilot means correlated with the diaphragm and the high pressure side of-the valve and including a liquid receptacle carried by the diaphragm with a oat positioned in the receptacle and connected with the spring-pressed means for controlling the action of the latter to thereby provide for the desired flow of iiuid through the valve structure.

To the foregoing objects and to others which may hereinafter appear, the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be more specifically referred to and illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein are shown embodiments of the invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modifications may be resorted to which fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view partly in detail of a ratio controller for a gas regulator constructed according to an embodiment of this invention,

Figure 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a section view'taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1, and

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view partly in detail of a modified form of this invention.

Referring to the drawings the -`numeral I0 designates a high pressure fluid pipe line through which a gas or other fluid is adapted to flow from a supply source and the numeral ll designates a low pressurepipe line which is adapted to be connected with the high pressure line I0. A valve structure generally designated as I2 is interposed betwee'n the adjacent ends of the two pipes I0 and l|, the pipe I0 having a flange I3, which confronts a flange Ilcarried by one end of the valve housing I5. Fastening devices I6 secure the two anges I3 and I4 together. The pipe Il is provided with a ange I1 and the housing I5 is formed with a confronting angey The valve housing I5 includes a substantially U-shaped wall having the legs or sides 2| and 22 thereof disposed in spaced apart relation and each formed with valve seats 23 and 24 respectively. An upper valve member 25 is secured by fastening members 26 to a vertically disposed valve stem 21 and a lower valve member 28 is secured by fastening devices 29 to the lower end of the valve stem 21. The valve member 25 is adapted when in port closing position to engage on the seat 23 and the valve member 28 is adapted when in port closing position to engage on the seat 24.

The two valve members 25 and 28 are spaced apart a distance such that in port closing-position the two valves 25 and 28 will be engaged with their respective seats at the same time. Conversely when the valve stem 21 is moved to a position for opening the valvestructure the two valve members 25 and 28 will be simultaneously moved to an open position. The valve housing |5 has formed therewith a cylindrical nipple or extension 38, which extends upwardly and about the valve stem 21. A diaphragm or valve operator housing generally designated as 3| is disposed abovethe extension 3U, the housing 3| being formed with a lower dished housing member 32, which has secured thereto or formed integrally therewith a ldownwardly extending nipple 33 which engages about the valve stem 21 and is formed at its lower end with a ange'34. The upper end of the extension 38 is also formed with a flange and the two flanges 34 and 35 are secured together by fastening devices 36. The lower housing member 32 is formed centrally thereof with an openin-g 31 through which the valve stem 21 slidably engages.

The lower housing member 32 is provided with a marginal and horizontally disposed flange 38, which is adapted -to confront a flange 39 carried 'by the upper housing member 40 which extends above the lower housing member 32. The two housing members 32 and 40 are secured together by fastening devices 4| which engage through the flanges 38 and 39. A flexible diaphragm 42 is interposed between the flanges 38 and 39 and divi-des the housing member 3| into a lower chamber 43 and an upper chamber 44. The valve stem 21 extends through an axially disposed opening 45 formed in the center of the diaphragm 42 and a disk or pla-te 46 having a central opening 41,also engages about the valve stem 21 on the upper side of the diaphragm 42. A lower nut 48 is threaded onto the stem 21 and bears against the under side of the diaphragm 42 whereas an upper nut 49 is threaded onto the stem 31 and bears against the plate or disk 46 so as to tightly hold the plate and diaphragm together.

The low pressure side of the housing |5 on the output side of the valve members 25 and 28 has extended thereinto a fluid conducting pipe 59 which is formed at its lower or inner end with a right angular extension 5| disposed coaxial with the housing I5 so that the pressure of gas or fluid on the output side of the valve structure will extend into the pipe 50. The lower housing member 32 is formed with a boss 52 into which the upper end of the pipe 50 extends so that the pressure of gas or fluid in the pipe 50 will be communicated to the lower fluid chamber 43. A union 53 is interposed between the ends of the pipe 58 so if desired the housingv structure 3| may be separated from the valve housing |5 by loosening the fastening devices 36 and the union 53. A T-shaped coupling 54 is also interposed in the pipe 50 and has secured thereto a laterally extending pipe 55. The pipe 55 has a vertically disposed extension 56 with which a pressure gauge 51 is connected so that the pressure of gas or fluid in the pipe 50 may be visibly determined. f

It will be understood that the gauge 51 may only be used as a temporary testing means which may be subsequently removed in order that the hereinafter described pilot structure may be adjusted to obtain the desired fluid pressure on the outputside of the valve housing I5 and within the lower pressure pipe An upwardly opening liquid receptacle 58 has the bottom wall 59 -thereof secured by fastening means 68 to the upper end of the stem 21. The receptac1e`58 is positioned within the upper chamber 44 of the housing 3| and is adapted to have a liquid 6| in the form of mercury or the like positioned therein. The upper housing member 40 has secured to the upper wall 62 thereof a cylindrical extension 63, which isdisposed in offset relation to the axial center of the housing member 44 and the extension 63 is formed with an upper flange 64 on which a closure plate 65 is adapted to be secured by fastening devices 66. In this manner after the receptacle 58 and the other parts disposed within the housing structure 3| are adjusted the liquid I6| may be placed within the receptacle 58. The closure plate 65 also may be removed for inspection purposes.

A pilot housing generally designa-ted as 61 is disposed above the upper housing member 40. The upper housing member 48 is provided with a cylindrical extension 68, which is provided with a flange '69 at its upper end. The pilot housing 61 is formed with a cylindrical downwardly extending nipple 10 formed with a flange 1| which is secured by fastening devices 12 to the ange 69. A vertically disposed plunger rod 13 extends axially through -the nipple or extension =68 and the nipple 18 and terminates at its lower end in the upper chamber 44. A float member 14 is secured by fastening devices 15 to the lower end of the plunger rod '1 3 and the float 14 is of a diameter substantially less than the diameter of the liquid receptacle 58 as shown in Figure 1.

A cylinder 16 extends upwardly from the. pilot housing 61 and is formed at its lower end with a flange 11 which is secured by fastening devices 'i8 toa flange 18 carried by an upwardly extending nipple formed integrally with the housing 61. The rod 13 extends axially into the cylinder 16 and has secured to the upper end thereof a plunger 8| as by fastening devices 82. A spring 83 is loosely disposed in the cylinder 16 and bears at its lower end against the upper side of the plunger 8|. A spring tensioning bolt 84 is threaded through the upper wall or head 85 of the cylinder 16 and bears against a plate 86, which is interposed between the lower or inner end of the bolt 84 and the upper end of the spring 83. The spring 83 is adapted to constantly urge the plunger 8| downwardly so as lto place the desired pressure on the float 14 and in like manner to place the diaphragm 42 under the desired pressure for urging the valve members 25 and 26 to an open position. The pilot housing member 61 includes a head or inspection plate 81, which is secured by fastening devices 88 to a flange 89 formed integral with the housing member 61. K A second head 98 is disposed opposite from the head 81 and engages against a flange 9| to which the head 99 is secured by fastening devices 92. The head 90 is formed with an opening 93 through which a pipe asiaeso 94 extends. The pipe may be secured and sealed to head 90 by welding or the like. The inner end of the pipe 94 hassecured thereto an L- shaped valve member or housing 95 which opens downwardly and a valve plug or flapper member'96 which is carried by a vertically rockable valve operating member 91 is adapted to engage against the lower open end .of the housing 95. One end of the lever 91 is pivotally mounted as at 98 on a bracket 99, which is fixed about the pipe 94 inwardly from the head 90. The other end of the lever 91 is bifurcated so that the bifurcated portion of the lever 91 may loosely extend about the plunger rod 13. Eacharm or bifurcation of the lever 91 is formed with a slot |0| between which a pin |02 loosely engages. The pin |02 extends horizontally through the rod 13 so that vertical movement of the rod 13 will also effect vertical movement of the lever 91. The pipe 94 is provided with a right angularly disposed branch |03, which is connected to the high pressure pipe l0 on the input side of the valve housing I5. A pressure reducing valve structure |04 is interposed in the pipe, 94, so that the desired pressure from the pipe I0 may be discharged into the pilot housing 61.

A cut-off valve |05 is interposed in the branch |03 between the pressure reducing, valve structure |04 and the pipe y I0. The pressure reducing valve structure |04 is of conventional construction and it is believed that it is unnecessary to describe the detailed construction of this reducing valve struc` ture. The vertically disposed nipple or extension 68 is provided adjacent the lower end thereof with a transversely extending plunger rod guide member or bar |06 having an opening |01 through which the plunger rod 13 slidably engages. The bar |06 forms passages |08 on the opposite edges thereof through which the iluid from the housing 61 is adapted to pass downwardly to the upper chamber 44. The area of passages |08 determines the rate of boosting of outlet pressure in line A vertically disposed pressure relieving pipe |09 is connected at its 562 of the upper housing 40 and the pressure relieving pipe |09 has interposed in the length thereof a union ||0. A disk or plate extends across the union l0 between the adjacent ends of the pipe sections ||2 and H3, which are formed by cutting the pipe |09. The disk or plate is provided axially thereof with a relatively small opening orvvent ||4. so that-the" fluid pressure from the upper chamber 44 will be gradually dissipated through the vent ||4 and fromthe upper pipe section ||3 into a horizontally disposed pipe `|I5, which is connected to the upper end of the pipe section ||3.

A downwardly directed L |I6 is connected to the horizontal pipe section or branch ||5 and opens into the atmosphere for permitting the gas or fluid pressure to be discharged intov the atmosphere at the deshired rate. A gauge ||1 is connected to a branch |`|8 which is connected to a coupling ||9 interposed inthe lower pipe section H2. Thefgauge ||1 may only be used during the initial adjustment of thespring 83 and the quantity of liquid 6| in the receptacle 58. The gauge ||1 will provide a means whereby the pressure in the chamber 44 and in the pilot housing 61 may be l the reducing valve |04 may if desired be adjusted in order to provide for the necessary fluid pressure in the chamber 44 and in the pilot housing lower end to the top walll readily determined so thatl 62 of the upper housing nected to an eye |22 carried by ybetween a high -to the lower end of the 61 when the iiapper valve 96 is moved lto an open position.

Referring now to Figure 4, there is disclosed a modified form of regulatorstructure which includes a valve structure I2 similar in every detail to the valve structure |2,which is interposed pressure pipe i0 and a low pressure pipe The valve structure |2 includes a pair of valve members 25 and 28 which determine the quantity of fluid flowing from the pipe I0 to the pipe The valvemembers 25 and 28 are secured to the lower end of a valve stem 21 and the valve stem 21 is secured centrally of a diaphragm 42 which Iis mounted in a diaphragm housing 3|. The diaphragm housing 3| includes a lower housing member 32 and an upper housing member 40. A pipe 50 is connected at its upper end to the lower housing member 32 and the lower end of the pipe 50 terminates within the output side of the valve structure I2, being provided with a forwardly directed extension 5|. The pipe 50 is designed for the purpose of communicating the pressure in the output side of the valve struc- ,ture l2 to the lower chamber 43 in the housing,3|.

A pilot structure 61 is secured to the top wall member 40 and the pilot 61 is formed similar in every detail to the housing member 61. by fastening devices 18 to the upper portion of the pilot member 61 and is formed at its upper end with a head or top wall-85 having a vent |20 therein. A plunger 8| is slidable in a cylinder 16 and has secured thereto by fastening devices 82 a plunger rod 13. The plunger rod 13 extends downwardly through the pilot housing 61 and is slidable in a horizontally disposed guide member |06 similar to the guide member |06 shown in greater detail in Figure 3. The guide member |06 is constructed in the form of a transversely extending bar which forms a pair of opposed iiuid passages which communicate the pressure from the interior of the housing 61 to the upper chamber 44 formed above the diaphragm 42. A spring |2| is connected at its upper end plunger rod 13 and the opposite or lower end of the spring |2| is co/nof the'valve stem 28.

A plate 46 is carried diaphragm 42 by the upper side of the being secured thereto by a lock threaded onto the stem 21 and engage against the lower side of the diaphragm 42; The plate 46 may be made relatively heavy so as to gravitatingly urge the diaphragm to ex downwardly and hold the valve members 25 and 28 in a normally open position. A valve structure is disposed within lthe pilot housing 61 and is 4connected by means of a pipe 94 to a pipe |03,

which is connected to the pipe I0, A reducing valve structure |04 is interposed in the pipe 94 so as to provide a reduced pressure structure 25, A valve member 96 is secured to a Yrock-lever 91 mounted on a support 99 and the .inner end portion of the lever 91 is formed with a, bifurcated/head |00 and the opposite arms of the head |00 are also bifurcated as at lill and a pin |02 carried by the plunger rod 13. loosely engages between the bifurcations pressure relief pipe |09 is connected at one end ot the top wall 62/ of the upper housin member 40 and has interposed therein a tructure H0y similar to the 'structure sho 4 ,in Figure 2 A cylinder 16 is secured the upper end in the valve for gradually relieving the fluid pressure from the chamber 44a.

In the use and operation of the pressure regulating means of Figure 1 the valve structure I2 is adapted to be interposed between the high pressure pipe I and the low pressure pipe II. The by-pass pipe |03 is connected with the high pressure pipe l0 and the spring 83 is tensioned by means of the spring tensioning bolt 84, so as to provide the desired pressure on the float or hollow body I4 in the liquid 6|, which is positioned in the upwardly opening receptacle 58. The pressure of the spring 83 will constantly urge the valve stem 21 downwardly to a valve opening position to permit the pressure of nuid,

such as gas or the like, to now from the high pressure pipe l0 to the low pressure pipe II. It is well known in gas supply lines that at certain periods there is an abnormal increase in the consumption of gas and this increase of consumption has the effect of materially reducing the gas pressure in the distant end of low pressure pipe II. The pressure in the pipe I I is maintained at a substantially constant pressure by means of the pipe 50, which communicates the fluid pressure from the pipe line I I to the lower diaphragm chamber 43. In the event the pressure in the chamber 43 drops below a predetermined degree the tension of the spring 83 will force the valve stem 21 with the valves 25 and 28 downwardly to a greater open position so as to permit the pressure from the pipe I0 to pass into the pipe |I. At the same time that the valves 25 and 28 are moved downwardly to an open position the plunger rod 'I3 is moved downwardly so as to move the apper valve member 96 to an open position. At this time the pressure in the pipe 94 determined by the pressure reducing valve |04 will enter the pilot housing 81 and will also pass downwardly into the upper diaphragmchamber 44.

The pressure of gas from the pipe 94 will have the eiect of also resisting the downward movement of the plunger 8| and counteract to a predetermined degree the downward force of the spring 83 and the lessenirig buoyancy force on the iloat, so that the valves 25 and 28 will not be opened to a. too great position. This will prevent the sudden flow of gas from the high pressure line I0 to the low Ipressure line II. The pressure of the gas in the upper chamber 44 will also have an eiect on the downward movement of the diaphragm 42, so as to hold this diaphragm in a lower valve opening position and in this manner there will be a downward. movement of the liquid receptacle 58 with respect to the flat 'I4 until the pressures in the two chambers 43 and 44 are substantially equalized. The gas or pressure in the upper chamber 44 is lessened by bleed gradually through the exhaust pipe I 09, which permits cushioned rising of diaphragm 42 and closer position of valves 25 and 28 to respective l seats when ilow downwardly decreases, the rate of exhaust being controlled by the size of the vent opening I I 4.

During the normal operation of this valve structure the flapper valve 96 will be in a closed position so that the valve members 25 .and 28 will be moved to either open or closed position by 'th'ejspring 83 and buoyancy-force change or the pressure of the gas in the lower diaphragm 43 respectively. {The tension of the spring 83 1s so adjusted as to provide the desired minimum loaded delivery pressure in line II, and the lessening buoyancy force of mercury on the iloat as the pot and diaphragm 42 drop away causes increased pressure to be built up in pilot chamber 61 depending upon position of diaphragm 42 and hence valves and 28, which action results in increased pressure build-up in chamber 44 and opens Wider valves 25 and 28 supplying gas to cause a build-up of pressure in line I| corresponding to 'reference position of mercury level on oat and existing buoyancy force by mercury on iloat for that particular mercury level.

These correlated actions result in nal object result' of device, namely, the ratio controller boosts the delivery pressure in line I|.in ratio to the degree of opening of valves 25 and 28 in amount depending upon the corresponding buoyancy force of the mercury on the oat for any particular degree of opening existing in valves 25 and 28. Whence the minimum` delivery of iluid pressure would exist in line when valves 25 and 28 are in closed position upward, and the maximum delivery pressure would exist in line Il when valves 25 and 28 are in fully open position downward. Denite other delivery pressures in line I I would exist between these maximum and minimum limits for corresponding denite positions of valves 25 and 28 between fully open and closed positions which in turn depend upon the load ow demand through line Il.

The passages |08 on the opposite sides of the plunger rod guide bar |06 may be formed of such a size-as to provide for the gradual release of the gas pressure in the housing 61, so that the pressure of the gas in the housing 6l which is formed by the discharge of gas through the pipe 94 and the :dapper valve 96 will move the plunger 8| upwardly so as to raise the oat I4 and thus permit the iluid pressure in the lower chamber 43 to move the valve members 25 and 28 toward port closing position. The effect of this is to prevent undue opening of` the valve members 25 and 28 and eliminate sudden release of high pressure from the high pressure pipe I0 to the low pressure pipe I In addition to the diaphragm 42'being constantly urged downwardly to a valve opening position by means of the spring 83, this diaphragm 42 is urged downwardly to a greater valve opening position when the pressure in the lower chamber 43 drops below a normal pressure by opening of the valve structure 95. The reducing valve structure |04 will permit a pre-determined reduced pressure of liuid to enter the pilot housing 61 when the valve member 9B is in an open position and this reduced pressure will enter the upper chamber 44 through the passages |08 in the guide |06. The valves 25 and 28 will thus be held in the desired open position until a counterbalancing pressure is communicated to the lower'diaphragm chamber 43'which will counterbalance the pressure in the upper chamber 44. As the pressure in the lower chamber 43 increases, the diaphragm 42 will be raised and the valve member 96 will be moved to a closing position to cut off the pressure from the pipe |03 which iiows through the reducing valve structure |04.

In the operation of the ,modified form of regulator shown in Figure 4, the weight of the plate 46a will determine the normal open position the valve members 25 and 28H. In the event there is a drop in pressure in the lower chamber 43 the valve members 25a and 28 will be moved to a more fully open position, and at the same time that the valve members 25' and 28a are moved to a more fully open position by downward flexing of the diaphragm 28 under the action of the weight 46a, the plunger rod 13 will be pulled downwardly thereby swinging the lever il'la downwardly and moving the valve member 96a to an open position. When the valve member 96a is in an open position, the pressure from the pipe 94a will enter the pilot housing 6la and will move the plunger 8la upwardly. Upward move' ment of the plunger Bla will draw the plunger rod 13 upwardly and tension the spring |2Ia, so as to thereby yieldably move the diaphragm 42"l upwardly and also move the valve members 25' and 28' toward cl-osing position. The amount of pressure which may enter the pilot housing 61B will be determined by the degree of opening of the valve member 96a and the holding of this pressure in the housing 6l8L will be determined by the size of the passages formed on the opposite edges of the plunger rod guide member la.

When a normal ilow of fluid is reestablished in the pipe l l and the pressure is normal, this normal pressure will be communicated to the lower pressure chamber 43' so as to hold the diaphragm 42 in a substantially balanced position with the valvel members 25a and 288L in a predetermined open position. At this time, the Valve member 96EL will be in a closed position, which is the position shown in Figure 4. The vent |2 in the top wall 85a is provided for the purpose of permitting the entrance and release of air in the cylinder 1.6a above the plunger 82a.

What I claim is:

1. A pressureregulating apparatus comprising a valve housing for positioning between high and low pressure pipe lines, valve means in said housing, a Valve operator housing carried by said valve housing, a diaphragm in said operator housing dividing'the latter into a lower chamber and an upper chamber, means connecting said diaphragm with said valve means, a pipe connecting the output side of said valve housing with said lower chamber whereby the uld pressure in said lower chamber will flex said diaphragm upwardly to thereby move said valve means toward closing position, a liquid receptacle fixed to said diaphragm and positioned in said upper chamber, a liquid in said receptacle, a oat in said liquid, and springpressed means above said diaphragm connected with said iioat and saidhigh pressure line for regulating the buoyancy of the latterand for controlling the downward flexing of.said diaphragm toward valve opening position.

2. A pressure regulating apparatus comprising a valve housing for positioning between high and low pressure pipe lines, valve means in said housing, a valve operator housing carried by said valve housing, a diaphragm in said operator housing dividing the latter into a lower chamber and an upper chamber, means connecting said diaphragm with said valve means, a pipe connecting the output side of said valve housing with said lower chamber whereby the fluid pressure in said lower chamber will flex 'said diaphragm upwardly to thereby move said valve means toward closing position, a liquid receptacle fixed to said diaphragm and positioned in said upper chamber, a liquid in said re'ceptacle, la float in said liquid, spring-pressed means connected with said oat and said high pressure line for regulating the buoyancy of the lat "and for controlling the downward flexing diaphragm toward valve opening positionifafnd ymeans connected with said springpressed' means and said high pressure pipe line for cushioning the operation of said springpressed means.

3. In combination a uid pressure regulating valve structure for interposition/between a high pressure line and a low pressure line and including a valve member for communicating said lines with each other, a valve operator housing, a diaphragm dividing said housing into a lower chamber and an upper chamber and connected to said valve member,l a pipe communicating said lower chamber with the output side of said valve structure, an upwardly opening receptacle in said upper chamber, means securing said receptacle to said diaphragm, a liquid in said receptacle, a iloat engaging in said liquid, tensionable means fixed to and extending upwardly from said iloat for normally urging said float downwardly to thereby maintain said valve member to a predetermined open position, a piston'carried by said tensionable means and movable therewith,. a second valve connected with said high pressure line, and means connecting said latter valve with said tensionable means whereby movement of said tensionable means towardvalve opening position will open said second valve and the pressure from said high pressure line will act on said piston to thereby retard the movement of said tensionable means toward valve opening position.

` 4. In combination a uid pressure regulating valve structure for interposition between a high pressure line and a low pressure line and including a valve member for communicating said lines with each other, a valve operator housing, a diaphragm dividing said housing into la lower chamber and an upper chamber and connected to said Valve member, a pipe communicating said lower chamber with the output side of said valve structure, an upwardly opening receptacle in said upper chamber, means securing said receptacle to said diaphragm, a liquid in said receptacle, a float engaging in said liquid, tensionable means xed to and extending upwardly from said float for normally urging said valve member to a predetermined open position, and means connected with said high pressure line and active when said tensionable means has moved said valve member beyond said predetermined open position for relieving said valve member from the tension of said tensionable means.

5. In combination a fluid pressure regulating valve 'structure for interposition between a high pressure line and a low pressure line and including a valve member for communicating said lines with each other, a valve operator housing, a diaphragm dividing said housing into a lower chamber and an upper chamber and connected tov said valve member, a pipe communicating said lower chamber with the output side of said valve structure, an upwardly opening Areceptacle l in said upperA chamber, means securing said repressure line whereby movement of said latter valve member to an open position will effect discharge of iiuid under pressure from said high pressure line into said pilot housing to thereby retard movement of said rst valve member beyond a predetermined open position, and means for gradually relieving the pressure in said pilot housing.

6. In combination a iiuid pressure regulating valve structure for interposition between a high pressure line and a low pressure line and including a va1ve member for communicating said lines with each other, a valve operator housing, a diaphragm dividing said housing into a lower chamber and an upper chamber and connected to said va1ve member, a pipe communicating said lower chamber with the output side of said valve structure, a pilot housing communicating with and extending from said operator housing, a cylinder` carried by said pilot housing, a spring-pressed plunger slidable in said cylinder, a plunger rod connected to said plunger, a iiexible connection between said rod and said diaphragm, a valve structure in said pilot housing including a valve member operatively connected with said plunger rod for movement of said latter valve member to open pOsition upon movement of said rod in one direction beyond a predetermined position, a pipe connecting said valve housing with said high pressure line whereby movement of said latter valve member to an open position will effect discharge of fluid under pressure from said high pressure line into said pilot housing to thereby retard movement -of said first valve member beyond a predetermined open position, means for gradually relieving the pressure in said pilot housing and a weight carried by said diaphragm for gravitatingly urging said first valve member toward open position.

7. In a diaphragm operated valve structure having a diaphragm housing connected at one side thereof to the low pressure side of a fluid line; a regulator for said valve structure comprising a pilot housing secured at one end to said diaphragm housing, a combined wall and guide between the said housings, said wall having a reduced opening providing communication between the pilot housing and the upper side of said diaphragm housing, a plunger carried by said pilot housing, an operative connection between said plunger and the diaphragm, said connection being slidable through said guide, a downwardly opening valve housing in said pilot housing, a valve for said va1ve housing pivotally carried by said pilot housing and engageable with said connection whereby movement of said plunger in one direction will move said valve to open position and movement of said plunger in the opposite direction will move said valve to closed position, a pipe connected at one end to the high pressure side .of said valve structure and at the other end to said valve housing, and a reducing va1ve interposed in said pipe.

8. In a diaphragm operated valve structure having a diaphragm housing connected at one side thereof to the low pressure side of a fluid line; a regulator for said valve structure comprising a' pilot housing secured at one end to said diaphragm housing, a combined wall and guide between the said housings, said wall having a reduced opening providing communication between the pilot housing and the upper side of said diaphragm housing, a plunger carried bysaid pilot housing, an operative connection between said plunger and the diaphragm, said connection being slidable through said guide, a downwardly opening valve housing in said pilot housing, a valve for said valve housing pivotally carried by said pilot housing and engageable with said connection whereby movement of said plunger in one direction will move said valve to open position and movement of said plunger in the opposite direction will move said va1ve to closed position, a pipe connected at one end to the high pressure side of said valve structure an'd at the other end to said valve housing, a reducing valve interposed in said pipe, a. vent pipe connected at one end to the upper side of said housing, and a pressure relieving means interposed in said vent pipe.

9, In a diaphragm operated valvestructure having a diaphragm housing connected at one side thereof to the low pressure side of a fluid line; a regulator for said va1ve structure comprising a pilot housing secured at one end to wardly opening valve housing in said pilot housing, said connection including a plunger rod xed to said plunger and slidable through said guide, a spring connecting said rod with said diaphragm, a va1ve for said valve housing pivotally carried by said pilot housing 'and engageable with said i connection whereby movement of said plunger in one direction will move said valve to open position and movement of said plunger in the opposite direction will move said valve to closed position, a pipe connected at one end to the high pressure side of said valve structure and at the other end to said valve housing, a reducing valve interposed in said pipe, a vent pipe connected at one end to the upper side of said housing, and a pressure relieving means interposed in 'said vent pipe.

WILLIAM B. COFFEE. 

